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Pediatric Psychology AKA child health psychology Usually practiced in medical settings Frequently intervene before psychopathology develops More likely to adopt a cognitive-behavioral orientation More short-term interventions Tend to emphasize medical and biological issues in training, research and service delivery

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History Remember – Clinical Psychology has its roots in the assessment and treatment of childhood disorders – Witmer, Binet However, through the 20 th century, study of childhood psychopathology was largely ignored – “adultmorphism” Neither Psychoanalysis or Behaviorism recognized the unique nature of childhood disorders

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DSM-III The first version of the DSM to make specific recommendations concerning developmental considerations in the diagnostic criteria for childhood disorders

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Why the recent attention? Psychopathology relatively common in childhood (8 – 22% of children diagnosed with a behavioral, emotional or learning disorder) Many childhood disorders have lifelong consequences Most adult disorders have their roots in childhood disorders By studying childhood disorders, may be better able to develop effective early interventions Media attention to high-profile, child-related problems (school violence, misuse/over-use of meds, child abuse, etc.)

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Classification Issues Greater emphasis on empirically derived classification Based more on research and use of clinical rating scales

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Assessment Issues As with adults, continued concern with psychometric properties of the instruments Many of same techniques used However: –More information supplied by adult referral services –Cognitive maturation limits usefulness of self-report data –Majority of referrals from schools, having to do with school-based problems –Almost always include concerns with behavior within the family setting –Issues of confidentiality